Yakiniku LIKE Iidabashi — Restaurant in Tokyo

PROS ➕ Solo booths

CONS ➖ None

Date visited: 04/30/2024

One of the many unique traits of Japanese eateries is their accommodation for solo visitors. This restaurant is no different.

I come here right after lunchtime on a weekday, so it is relatively quiet and uncrowded. The ordering process takes only a few minutes—from checking the menu to getting seated. I'm with a friend, so naturally, we are assigned two adjacent single booths. There is some music playing in the background at low volume, which I appreciate.

The grill is flameless. It uses cast iron plates as the heating element, if I remember correctly. Food can still be charred where it comes into contact with the metal grid. We order a basic set with an extra portion of some higher-end items, such as wagyu beef and salad, for tasting. Thanks to the paper-thin slices of meat, cooking takes no time at all. Some of the meat is seasoned, but a variety of sauces are also provided for extra flavor. The taste is consistent with grilled meat, but then again, I'm here more for the experience of dining than for the food itself. As for the cost, I would expect somewhere above the...

Affordable yakiniku spot that’s usually quiet and not crowded. Ordering and paying through the tablet and machine are super convenient — honestly, a dream for introverts.

However, there’s one major downside. I often go with a friend (2 people), and we’d prefer the table seats upstairs. Despite visiting three times, we’ve always been directed to the counter seats with separated grills. Yesterday, we asked again about the table seats, and the staff told us they were fully booked. But when I went upstairs to use the restroom, I saw plenty of empty tables. That felt dishonest and really...

Solo barbecue restaurant. You get to have your own small space to grill. You can order by selecting the menu on the tablet and order will be served in 5 mins or so depending on number of customers and what you order. There were a lot of customers at that time. The meat tasted okay. It wasn’t seasoned enough for it to have a strong distinct flavor. Though there were 6 options for sauces but it was still so-so. They do not serve alcohol. This concept is good if you want to eat bbq by yourself. Paying for your bill is also self...